VLADIMIR ZELENSKY: "THE TOMOS IS A VICTORY FOR UKRAINE"
Religiia
v Ukraine, 22 April 2019
Vladimir Zelensky, who was elected president of Ukraine
on 21 April
2019, informed voters on the eve of the election that he thinks
well of the
tomos about autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and
he considers it not
only President Petro Poroshenko's achievement, Religiia v
Ukraine reports.
During the debate with Poroshenko in the Olympic stadium
on 19 April,
Zelensky literally declared (in translation from Ukrainian): "As
regards
the tomos, this is a victory for Ukraine. But it seems to me
that this is a
victory primarily of Filaret, who fought for the Ukrainian
church back before
you became president. Back in the time when you were a
parishioner of the
Moscow patriarchate."
Earlier, on 4 April, an advisor to Zelensky for legal
matters, Irina
Venediktova, stated at a press conference: "Ukraine is a secular
state,
but for our self-identity the receipt of the tomos was most
important.
Therefore these are things on which nobody will encroach but
will support by
all possible means that the state has. The state cannot tread on
the territory
of sacred religious things, but it is obligated to protect them.
Vladimir
Zelensky will do everything in order to protect this mighty
achievement."
Despite this, on the day of the election, 21 April,
without awaiting
the counting of votes, UPTsMP Metropolitan of Zaporozhe Luka,
who earlier
threatened the head of the Novonikolaev district state
administration with a
curse for his support of autocephaly and campaigned against
Poroshenko,
published on the official website of the diocese congratulations
to Zelensky
for "an undoubted victory in the presidential election," and he
assured him of "prayerful intercession."
In his congratulations published on 22 April, the head
of the UPTsMP,
Metropolitan Onufrey, also says to Zelensky: "Your stated
priorities for
the development of the country coincide with the hopes and
aspirations of our
people."
Meanwhile, observers earlier explained "why Zelensky is
frightening for Orthodoxy." In an interview with RBK-Ukraine on
17 April,
Vladimir Zelensky confirmed that he is a loyal supporter of
abortions and the
legalization of marijuana, prostitution, and gambling. (tr. by
PDS, posted 22
April 2019)
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